Virtual reassembly system and method of operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A virtual reassembly system for use with a fast pattern processor and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the virtual reassembly system includes a first pass subsystem configured to convert a packet of a protocol data unit into at least one processing block, queue the at least one processing block based upon a header of the packet and determine if the packet is a last packet of the protocol data unit. The virtual reassembly system further includes a second pass subsystem configured to virtually reassemble the protocol data unit by retrieving the at least one processing block based upon the queue.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/186,424 entitled “FPP” to David Sonnier, et al., filed on Mar. 2,2000, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/186,516 entitled “RSP”to David Sonnier, et al., filed on Mar. 2, 2000, which is commonlyassigned with the present invention and incorporated herein by referenceas if reproduced herein in its entirety.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following U.S. Patent Applications:Reference No. Title Inventor Date BENNETT A Function Interface Bennett,Filed Mar. 2, 2001 4-1-2-4-2 System And Method of et al. ProcessingIssued Functions Between Co-Processors BROWN 2 A Checksum Engine AndDavid A. Filed Mar. 2, 2001 Method of Operation Brown Thereof

The above-listed applications are commonly assigned co-pending with thepresent invention and are incorporated herein by reference as ifreproduced herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed, in general, to a communicationssystem and, more specifically, to a virtual reassembly system and methodof operating the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communications networks are currently undergoing a revolution broughtabout by the increasing demand for real-time information being deliveredto a diversity of locations. Many situations require the ability totransfer large amounts of data across geographical boundaries withincreasing speed and accuracy. However, with the increasing size andcomplexity of the data that is currently being transferred, maintainingthe speed and accuracy is becoming increasingly difficult.

Early communications networks resembled a hierarchical star topology.All access from remote sites was channeled back to a central locationwhere a mainframe computer resided. Thus, each transfer of data from oneremote site to another, or from one remote site to the central location,had to be processed by the central location. This architecture is veryprocessor-intensive and incurs higher bandwidth utilization for eachtransfer. This was not a major problem in the mid to late 1980s wherefewer remote sites were coupled to the central location. Additionally,many of the remote sites were located in close proximity to the centrallocation. Currently, hundreds of thousands of remote sites arepositioned in various locations across assorted continents. Legacynetworks of the past are currently unable to provide the data transferspeed and accuracy demanded in the marketplace of today.

In response to this exploding demand, data transfer through networksemploying distributed processing has allowed larger packets ofinformation to be accurately and quickly distributed across multiplegeographic boundaries. Today, many communication sites have theintelligence and capability to communicate with many other sites,regardless of their location. This is typically accomplished on a peerlevel, rather than through a centralized topology, although a hostcomputer at the central site can be appraised of what transactions takeplace and can maintain a database from which management reports aregenerated and operation issues addressed.

Distributed processing currently allows the centralized site to berelieved of many of the processor-intensive data transfer requirementsof the past. This is typically accomplished using a data network, whichincludes a collection of routers. The routers allow intelligent passingof information and data files between remote sites. However, increaseddemand and the sophistication required to route current information anddata files quickly challenged the capabilities of existing routers.Also, the size of the data being transmitted is dramatically increasing.Some efficiencies are obtained by splitting longer data files into acollection of smaller, somewhat standardized cells for transmission orrouting. However, these efficiencies are somewhat offset by theprocessing required to reassemble or process the cells at nodes withinthe network.

More specifically, the physical reassembly process requires the systemto physically reassemble an entire protocol data unit (data file)encapsulated in the cells before processing can be performed on theprotocol data unit. This physical reassembly process increases theprocessing time and therefore decreases the throughput of the router. Inview of the ever increasing demand for higher transmission speeds thisis highly undesirable.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a system to overcome thedeficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, thepresent invention provides a virtual reassembly system for use with afast pattern processor and a method of operating the same. In oneembodiment, the virtual reassembly system includes: (1) a first passsubsystem configured to convert a packet of a protocol data unit into atleast one processing block, queue the at least one processing blockbased upon a header of the packet and determine if the packet is a lastpacket of the protocol data unit and (2) a second pass subsystemconfigured to virtually reassemble the protocol data unit by retrievingthe at least one processing block based upon the queue.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method ofoperating a virtual reassembly system that includes: (1) converting in afirst pass subsystem a packet of a protocol data unit into at least oneprocessing block, queuing the at least one processing block based upon aheader of the packet and determining if the packet is a last packet ofthe protocol data unit and (2) virtually reassembling in a second passsubsystem the protocol data unit by retrieving the at least oneprocessing block based upon the queue.

The present invention also provides, in one embodiment, a fast patternprocessor that includes a data buffer that stores processing blocks anda context memory subsystem associated with the data buffer that receivesthe processing blocks. The fast pattern processor also includes avirtual reassembly system, having: (1) a first pass subsystem thatconverts packets of different protocol data units into the processingblocks, stores the processing blocks in the data buffer and the contextmemory, queues the processing blocks based upon a header of each of thepackets and determines if each of the packets is a last packet of one ofthe different protocol data units and (2) a second pass subsystem thatvirtually reassembles the different protocol data units by retrievingthe processing blocks based upon the queues.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides router thatincludes a first and second interface subsystem and a fast patternprocessor configured to receive a packet of a protocol data unit fromthe first interface subsystem. The fast pattern processor includes avirtual reassembly system having: (1) a first pass subsystem configuredto convert the packet of the protocol data unit into at least oneprocessing block, queue the at least one processing block based upon aheader of the packet and determine if the packet is a last packet of theprotocol data unit and (2) a second pass subsystem configured tovirtually reassemble the protocol data unit by retrieving the at leastone processing block based upon the queue. The router also may include arouting switch processor configured to receive at least one of thepacket or the protocol data unit from the fast pattern processor andtransmit via the second interface subsystem.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, preferred and alternativefeatures of the present invention so that those skilled in the art maybetter understand the detailed description of the invention thatfollows. Additional features of the invention will be describedhereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Thoseskilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use thedisclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing ormodifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of thepresent invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize thatsuch equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsnetwork constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a routerarchitecture constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a fast patternprocessor constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a first passsubsystem of a virtual reassembly system constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a second passsubsystem of a virtual reassembly system constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method ofoperating a virtual reassembly system constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of er, which mayemploy the virtual reassembly system ated in FIGS. 4 through 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, illustrated is a block diagram of anembodiment of a communications network, generally designated 100,constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.The communications network 100 is generally designed to transmitinformation in the form of a data packet from one point in the networkto another point in the network.

As illustrated, the communications network 100 includes a packet network110, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 115, a source device 120and a destination device 130. In the illustrative embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the packet network 110 comprises an Asynchronous Transfer Mode(ATM) network. However, one skilled in the art readily understands thatthe present invention may use any type of packet network. The packetnetwork 110 includes routers 140, 145, 150, 160, 165, 170 and a gateway155. One skilled in the pertinent art understands that the packetnetwork 110 may include any number of routers and gateways.

The source device 120 may generate a data packet to be sent to thedestination device 130 through the packet network 110. In theillustrated example, the source device 120 initially sends the datapacket to the first router 140. The first router 140 then determinesfrom the data packet which router to send the data packet to based uponrouting information and network loading. Some information in determiningthe selection of a next router may include the size of the data packet,loading of the communications link to a router and the destination. Inthis example, the first router 140 may send the data packet to thesecond router 145 or fourth router 160.

The data packet traverses from router to router within the packetnetwork 110 until it reaches the gateway 155. In one particular example,the data packet may travers along a path that includes the first router140, the fourth router 160, the fifth router 165, the sixth router 170,the third router 150 and finally to the gateway 155. The gateway 155converts the data packet from the protocol associated with the packetnetwork 110 to a different protocol compatible with the PSTN 115. Thegateway 155 then transmits the data packet to the destination device 130via the PSTN 115. However, in another example, the data packet maytraverse along a different path such as the first router 140, the secondrouter 145, the third router 150 and finally to the gateway 155. It isgenerally desired when choosing a subsequent router, the path the datapacket traverses should result in the fastest throughput for the datapacket. It should be noted, however, that this path does not alwaysinclude the least number of routers.

Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a block diagram of an embodimentof a router architecture, generally designated 200, constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. The routerarchitecture 200, in one embodiment, may be employed in any of therouters illustrated in FIG. 1. The router architecture 200 provides aunique hardware and software combination that delivers high-speedprocessing for multiple communication protocols with fullprogrammability. The unique combination provides the programmability oftraditional reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors with thespeed that, until now, only application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC) processors could deliver.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the router architecture 200 includesa physical interface 210, a fast pattern processor (FPP) 220, a routingswitch processor (RSP) 230, and a system interface processor (SIP) 240.The router architecture 200 may also includes a fabric interfacecontroller 250 which is coupled to the RSP 230 and a fabric network 260.It should be noted that other components not shown may be includedwithin the router architecture 200 without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

The physical interface 210 provides coupling to an external network. Inan exemplary embodiment, the physical interface 210 is a POS-PHY/UTOPIAlevel 3 interface. The FPP 220, in one embodiment, may be coupled to thephysical interface 210 and receives a data stream that includes protocoldata units from the physical interface 210. The FPP 220 analyzes andclassifies the Protocol data units and subsequently concludes processingby outputting packets to the RSP 230.

The FPP 220, in conjunction with a powerful high-level functionalprogramming language (FPL), is capable of implementing complex patternor signature recognition and operates on the processing blockscontaining those signatures. The FPP 220 has the ability to performpattern analysis on every byte of the payload plus headers of a datastream. The pattern analysis conclusions may then be made available to asystem logic or to the RSP 230, allowing processing block manipulationand queuing functions. The FPP 220 and RSP 230 provide a solution forswitching and routing. The FPP 220 further provides glueless interfacesto the RSP 230 and the SIP 240 to provide a complete solution forwire-speed processing in next-generation, terabit switches and routers.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the FPP 220 employs a first communication link270 to receive the data stream from the physical interface 210. Thefirst communication link 270 may be an industry-standard UTOPIA Level3/UTOPIA Level 2/POS-PHY Level 3 interface. Additionally, the FPP 220employs a second communication link 272 to transmit packet andconclusions to the RSP 230. The second communication link 272 may bePOS-PHY Level 3 interface.

The FPP 220 also includes a management path interface (MPI) 275, afunction bus interface (FBI) 280 and a configuration bus interface (CBI)285. The MPI 275 enables the FPP 220 to receive management frames from alocal microprocessor. In an exemplary embodiment, this may be handledthrough the SIP 240. The FBI 280 connects the FPP 220 and the SIP 240,or custom logic in certain situations, for external processing offunction calls. The CBI 285 connects the FPP 220 and other devices(e.g., physical interface 210 and RSP 230) to the SIP 240. Otherinterfaces (not shown), such as memory interfaces, are also well withinthe scope of the present invention.

The FPP 220 provides an additional benefit in that it is programmable toprovide flexibility in optimizing performance for a wide variety ofapplications and protocols. Because the FPP is a programmable processorrather than a fixed-function ASIC, it can handle new protocols orapplications as they are developed as well as new network functions asrequired. The FPP 220 may also accommodate a variety of searchalgorithms. These search algorithms may be applied to large listsbeneficially.

The RSP 230 is also programmable and works in concert with the FPP 220to process the protocol data units classified by the FPP 220. The RSP230 uses the classification information received from the FPP 220 todetermine the starting offset and the length of the Protocol data unitpayload, which provides the classification conclusion for the Protocoldata unit. The classification information may be used to determine theport and the associated RSP 230 selected for the Protocol data unit. TheRSP 230 may also receive additional Protocol data unit informationpassed in the form of flags for further processing.

The RSP 230 also provides programmable traffic management includingpolicies such as random early discard (RED), weighted random earlydiscard (WRED), early packet discard (EPD) and partial packet discard(PPD). The RSP 230 may also provide programmable traffic shaping,including programmable per queue quality of service (QoS) and class ofservice (CoS) parameters. The QoS parameters include constant bit rate(CBR), unspecified bit rate (UBR), and variable bitrate (VBR).Correspondingly, CoS parameters include fixed priority, round robin,weighted round robin (WRR), weighted fair queuing (WFQ) and guaranteedframe rate (GFR).

Alternatively, the RSP 230 may provide programmable packetmodifications, including adding or stripping headers and trailers,rewriting or modifying contents, adding tags and updating checksums andCRCs. The RSP 230 may be programmed using a scripting language withsemantics similar to the C language. Such script languages are wellknown in the art. Also connected to the RSP 230 are the fabric interfacecontroller 250 and the fabric network 260. The fabric interfacecontroller 250 provide the physical interface to the fabric 260, whichis typically a communications network.

The SIP 240 allows centralized initialization and configuration of theFPP 220, the RSP 230 and the physical interfaces 210, 250. The SIP 240,in one embodiment, may provide policing, manage state information andprovide a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connection to a hostcomputer. The SIP 240 may be a PayloadPlus™ Agere System Interfacecommercially available from Agere Systems, Inc.

Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a block diagram of an embodimentof a fast pattern processor (FPP), generally designated 300, constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention. The FPP 300includes an input framer 302 that receives protocol data units viaexternal input data streams 330, 332. The input framer 302 framespackets containing the Protocol data units into 64-byte processingblocks and stores the processing blocks into an external data buffer340. The input data streams 330, 332 may be 32-bit UTOPIA/POS-PHY fromPHY and 8-bit POS-PHY management path interface from SIP 240 (FIG. 2),respectively.

Typically, a data buffer controller 304 is employed to store theprocessing blocks to the external data buffer 340. The data buffercontroller 304 also stores the processing blocks and associatedconfiguration information into a portion of a context memory subsystem308 associated with a context, which is a processing thread. Asillustrated, the context memory subsystem 308 is coupled to a databuffer controller 304.

Additionally, the context memory subsystem 308 is coupled to achecksum/cyclical redundancy check (CRC)engine 314 and a patternprocessing engine 312. The checksum/CRC engine 314 performs checksum orCRC functions on processing block and on the Protocol data unitsembodied with the processing block. The pattern processing engine 312performs pattern matching to determine how Protocol data units areclassified and processed. The pattern processing engine 312 is coupledto a program memory 350.

The FPP 300 further includes a queue engine 316 and an arithmetic logicunit (ALU) 318. The queue engine 316 manages replay contexts for the FPP300, provides addresses for block buffers and maintains information onblocks, Protocol data units, and connection queues. The queue engine 316is coupled to an external control memory 360 and the internal functionbus 310. The ALU 318 is coupled to the internal function bus 310 and iscapable of performing associated computational functions.

Also coupled to the internal function bus 310 is a functional businterface 322. The functional bus interface 322 passes externalfunctional programming language function calls to external logic througha data port 336. In one exemplary embodiment, the data port 336 is a32-bit connection to the SIP 240 (FIG. 2). The FPP 300 also includes aconfiguration bus interface 320 for processing configuration requestsfrom externally coupled processors. As illustrated, the configurationbus interface 320 may be coupled to a data port 334, such as an 8-bitCBI source.

Additionally, coupled to the internal function bus 310 is an outputinterface 306. The output interface 306 sends Protocol data units andtheir classification conclusions to the downstream logic. The outputinterface 306 may retrieve the processing blocks stored in the databuffer 340 and send the Protocol data units embodied within theprocessing blocks to an external unit through an output data port 338.The output data port 338, in an exemplary embodiment, is a 32-bitPOS-PHY connected to the RSP 230 (FIG. 2).

Turning now to FIG. 4, illustrated is a block diagram of an embodimentof a first pass subsystem, generally designated 400, of a virtualreassembly system constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. The present invention provides a virtual reassemblysystem that advantageously employs a two-pass system that allows packetsof a protocol data unit to be processed without recreating (physicallyreassembling) the entire protocol data unit in a contiguous portion ofmemory. For purposes of the present invention, a “protocol data unit” isthe underlying message in a specific protocol that may be transmittedvia packets over a network. For example, a protocol data unit may be anInternet Protocol (“IP”) message that is transmitted over anAsynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) network. In an ATM network, the IPmessage is broken into ATM cells (packets) before transmission over theATM network. Of course, however, a protocol data unit may be anyprotocol message transmitted over a network and a packet may be aportion of the protocol data unit or the entire protocol data unit.

The virtual reassembly system includes the first pass subsystem 400 thatis configured to convert a packet of a protocol data unit into at leastone processing block, queue the processing block(s) based upon a headerof the packet and determine if the packet is a last packet of theprotocol data unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the first passsubsystem 400 includes an input framer 410 that is configured to convertthe packet from an input 480 into one or more processing blocks. For thepurposes of the present invention, the phrase “configured to” means thatthe device, the system or the subsystem includes the necessary software,hardware, firmware or a combination thereof to accomplish the statedtask. “Convert a packet” includes storing or framing at least a portionof the packet in a processing block. A “processing block” is a storagearea employed in processing the packets associated with protocol dataunits and may include additional information.

As the input framer 410 converts each packet into one or more processingblocks, the input framer 410 may also be configured to determine anoffset to a data portion of the processing block and assign a context.For example, if the protocol data unit is an IP message transmitted viaATM cells, each ATM cell (packet) is stored in a processing block. Theinput framer 410 determines the offset in the processing block to thestart of the ATM cell. In another embodiment, the input framer 410 maydetermine the offset in the processing block to the start of a payloadof the ATM cell. For purposes of the present invention, a “context” is aprocessing thread identification and may include additional information.The context may be used by the virtual reassembly system to track andprocess packets and processing blocks.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first pass subsystem 400 alsoincludes a data buffer controller 420, a data buffer 422 and a contextmemory subsystem 430. The data buffer controller 420 is configured toreceive processing blocks from the input framer 410 and send each of theprocessing blocks to the data buffer 422 and the context memorysubsystem 430. The data buffer 422 stores each processing block forprocessing in the second pass. The context memory subsystem 430 isconfigured to receive and associate each processing block with a contextfor processing.

The first pass subsystem 400 may also include a pattern processingengine 440 and a program memory 442. The pattern processing engine 440is configured to receive processing blocks from the input framer 410 viathe context memory subsystem 430. The pattern processing engine 440 mayalso receive a context associated with each processing block or a groupof processing blocks. The pattern processing engine 440 also employs theprogram memory 442 for storage of data or programs. The programs specifythe type of function to be performed on each processing block or groupof processing blocks. The functions may include validating eachprocessing block, matching information in the header of one or morepackets, determining if the packet is in-sequence and statisticalanalysis. Of course, however, the present invention is not limited tothe type of functions listed above. Other embodiments of the presentinvention may employ different or additional functions.

The pattern processing engine 440, in one embodiment, employs thecontext associated with each processing block to process and track eachof the processing blocks associated with a packet or a protocol dataunit. The pattern processing engine 440 also queues each processingblock based upon the header of the associated packet. In one embodiment,the pattern processing engine may queue based upon a connection addresscontained within the header of the packet. Also, the pattern processingengine 440 may determine if the packet received is the last packet of aparticular protocol data unit. The last packet indicates when the secondpass processing is to be performed for the processing blocks associatedwith that particular protocol data unit. See FIG. 5 for a discussion ofthe second pass processing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first pass subsystem 400 alsoincludes a queue engine 460 and a control memory 462. The queue engine460 is configured to maintain an order of each packet associated with aparticular protocol data unit and maintain an order of all of theprocessing blocks associated with that particular protocol data unit.The queue engine 460 may employ the control memory 462 in maintainingthe order of packets and processing blocks. In one embodiment, the queueengine 460 may use a linked list to maintain the order. In anotherembodiment, the queue engine 460 maintains order based upon a header ofthe packet or based upon the header of the protocol data unit.

The queue engine 460 may also receive the processing blocks from thepattern processing engine 440 via an internal function bus 470. Thequeue engine 460 may then queue the processing blocks in queuesmaintained within the control memory 462. In another embodiment, thequeue engine 460 may receive information from the pattern processingengine 440 that determines how to order the processing blocks via thefunction bus 470. For information concerning the operation of thefunction bus see U.S. patent Ser. No. ______, titled “A FunctionInterface System and Method of Processing Issued Functions BetweenCo-processors” and herein incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, the first pass subsystem 400 receives andprocesses packets associated with different protocol data units. Packetsfor one protocol data unit may be interleaved with packets fromdifferent protocol data units. The input framer 410, the data buffercontroller 420, the context memory subsystem 430, the pattern processingengine 440 and the queue engine 460 advantageously process multiplepackets associated with different protocol data units at the same time.

Turning now to FIG. 5, illustrated is a block diagram of an embodimentof a second pass subsystem, generally designated 500, of a virtualreassembly system constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. The second pass subsystem 500 is configured tovirtually reassemble the protocol data unit by retrieving the processingblocks associated with the protocol data unit based upon the queue. Thequeue may contain linked lists of all of the processing blocksassociated with each protocol data unit. In another embodiment, a queuemay be associated with a particular protocol data unit and theinformation referencing each of the processing blocks for that protocoldata unit may be queued in the order to be processed. Of course,however, other methods of maintaining order of the processing blocks andassociation with protocol data units may be employed by the presentinvention.

Virtual reassembly is the process of performing functions or examiningthe protocol data unit encapsulated within the processing blocks withoutexamining the header information of each processing block and withoutphysically reassembling the entire protocol data unit. The virtualreassembly is performed in the second pass subsystem 500. The secondpass subsystem 500 retrieves each processing block and indexes to thestart of the payload within each processing block. The second passsubsystem 500 then examines and processes that portion of the protocoldata unit. The second pass subsystem 500, in one embodiment, may examineor extract a destination address from the header of the protocol dataunit for routing purposes. For example, the second pass subsystem 500may examine each payload of ATM cells stored in the processing blocks todetermine an IP address or routing information of an IP messageencapsulated within the ATM cells.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second pass subsystem 500 may alsoutilize the pattern processing engine 440. The pattern processing engine440 is configured to process a payload of a protocol data unit embodiedwithin at least one processing block. When the pattern processing engine440 requires a processing block, the pattern processing engine 440 sendsa request to the queue engine 460 via the function bus 470. The queueengine 460 retrieves the next processing block from the data buffer 422based upon a queue previously initialized in the first pass subsystem400. The processing block is stored in the context memory subsystem 430for processing by the pattern processing engine 440.

In one embodiment, each processing block for a particular protocol dataunit is associated with a single context in the context memory subsystem430. The pattern processing engine 440 may employ that context in theprocessing of a particular protocol data unit. In a related embodiment,an offset to the start of the protocol data unit (payload) in theprocessing block is also stored with the processing block in the contextmemory subsystem 430. The pattern processing engine 440 only accessesthat portion of the processing block when processing the protocol dataunit. The processing routines employed by the pattern processing engine440 are indifferent to other information, such as packet headers. Thus,the present invention advantageously allows the processing routines tobe programmed to process only the protocol data unit and not have tohandle processing the packet associated with the transmission media,thereby increasing the processing speed and throughput.

The second pass subsystem 500, in one embodiment, also includes anoutput interface subsystem 510 coupled to an output port 520. The outputinterface subsystem 510 is configured to re-transmit the data containedwithin each processing block to the output port 520 as the patternprocessing engine 440 processes the processing block. The outputinterface subsystem 510 may receive processing information from thepattern processing engine 440 or the queue engine 460 via the functionbus 470. The output interface subsystem 510 may also retrieve eachprocessing block from the data buffer 422 based upon a queue maintainedby the queue engine 460.

In one embodiment, the output interface subsystem 510 may re-transmitthe packet embodied within the processing blocks or re-transmit only theprotocol data unit (payload of the packet) embodied within theprocessing blocks. For example, the output interface subsystem 510 mayre-transmit each of the ATM cells containing a particular IP message, orthe output interface subsystem 510 may extract the ATM cell informationand re-transmit only the IP message (the protocol data unit). Of course,however, the output interface subsystem 510 may transmit any portion ofthe processing block as well as additional information associated with aprotocol data unit.

One skilled in the art should know that second pass subsystem 500 mayprocess multiple packets from different protocol data units at the sametime. In one embodiment, the processing blocks associated with aparticular data unit may be queued for re-transmission by the outputinterface 510 until all of the processing blocks for that particularprotocol data unit have been processed by the pattern processing engine440. In another embodiment, the output interface subsystem 510 mayinterleave the re-transmission of processing blocks from differentprotocol data units.

Thus, the first pass subsystem 400 and the second pass subsystem 500 canprocess the packets and perform virtual reassembly at wire speed. “Wirespeed” is a rate at which packets are transmitted over a network. Forexample, ATM networks may transmit at a rate of 2.5 Gbits and thepresent invention can receive each packet, perform processing andvirtual reassemble at that rate of input. Of course, however, thepresent invention is not limited to ATM cells and ATM transmissionrates. Other embodiments, may employ other transmission media,transmission rates and protocols.

Turning now to FIG. 6, illustrated is a flow diagram of an embodiment ofa method, generally designated 600, of operating a virtual reassemblysystem constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. In FIG. 6, the virtual reassembly system first performsinitialization in a step 602.

After initialization, the virtual reassembly system determines if thereare any packets to process in a decisional step 604. If the virtualreassembly system received a packet, the virtual reassembly systemconverts the packet into at least one processing block in a step 610.The virtual reassembly system may then determine an offset to the dataportion of each of the processing blocks in a step 612. In oneembodiment, the offset is a pointer to the start of the portion of thepacket contained within the processing block or the offset is a pointerto the whole packet that is contained within the processing block. Inanother embodiment, the offset may be a pointer to the start of theprotocol data unit of the packet contained within the processing block.

Next, the virtual reassembly system stores the processing block in astep 614. In one embodiment, the virtual reassembly system may storeeach processing block in a data buffer and in a context memorysubsystem. The virtual reassembly system then performs a function oneach of the processing blocks in a step 616. In one embodiment, thevirtual reassembly system includes a pattern processing engine thatperforms the function, as discussed above. In a related embodiment, thefunction may be validating the processing block, matching information ina header of the packet, determining if the packet is in-sequence andperforming statistical analysis. Of course, however, the virtualreassembly system may perform other functions on each processing block.

The virtual reassembly system then queues the processing block basedupon the header of the packet in a step 618. Queuing may employ linkedlists to maintain the order of the processing blocks associated witheach protocol data unit. In another embodiment, the queuing may employat least one queue that maintains the order of the processing blocks.

The virtual reassembly system then determines if the packet beingprocessed is the last packet for that particular protocol data unit in adecisional step 620. If the packet is the last packet, the virtualreassembly system employs an indicator to indicate that second passprocessing is to be performed on the processing blocks associated withthe protocol data unit in a step 630. The virtual reassembly system thenreturns to process the next packet in the decisional step 604. If thepacket is not the last packet, the virtual reassembly system returns toprocess the next packet in the decisional step 604.

If the virtual reassembly system does not have any packets to process inthe decisional step 604, the virtual reassembly system then determinesif it is to perform second pass processing for a particular data unit ina decisional step 640. If no second pass processing is to be performed,the virtual reassembly system then returns to process the next packet inthe decisional step 604.

If there is second pass processing to be performed, the virtualreassembly system retrieves each processing block of a protocol dataunit based upon the queue and processes the payload of each processingblock in a step 650. The virtual reassembly system, in one embodiment,determines the offset to the start of the protocol data unit within eachprocessing block and processes based upon that offset.

Next, the virtual reassembly system may re-transmit the data containedwithin each of the processing blocks to an output port, withoutphysically reassembling the entire data, in a step 652. In oneembodiment, the virtual reassembly system may re-transmit the packet orportion of the packet contained within each processing block. Thevirtual reassembly system, in another embodiment, may re-transmit theportion of the protocol data unit (payload) contained within eachprocessing block. The virtual reassembly system then returns to processthe next packet in the decisional step 604.

One skilled in the art should know that the present invention is notlimited to processing packets and then performing second passprocessing. The present invention may perform first pass processing onpackets associated with one protocol data unit and at the same timeperform second pass processing on packets associated with a differentprotocol data unit. Also, other embodiments of the present invention mayhave additional or fewer steps than described above.

Turning now to FIG. 7, illustrated is a block diagram of an embodimentof a router, generally designated 700, which may employ the virtualreassembly system as discussed above. The router 700 includes a firstinterface subsystem 710, a fast pattern processor 720, a routing switchprocessor 730 and a second interface subsystem 740. The first interfacesubsystem 710 is configured to receive packets of a protocol data unitfrom a first network in a first protocol. The fast pattern processor 720is configured to receive the packets from the first interface subsystem710. The fast pattern processor 720 may also include a virtualreassembly system having a first pass subsystem and a second passsubsystem. See FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 for a detailed description of thefast pattern processor and the virtual reassembly system.

The routing switch processor 730 is configured to receive the packets ora protocol data unit from the fast pattern processor 720. The routingswitch processor 730 may also transmit at least a portion of the packetsor the protocol data unit to the second interface subsystem 740. Thesecond interface subsystem 740 then transmits the received informationto the network. In one embodiment, the second interface subsystem 740may be coupled to a second network. In a related embodiment, the secondinterface subsystem 740 may covert from a first protocol associated withthe first interface subsystem 710 to a second protocol associated withthe second network.

In the illustrated embodiment, the routing switch processor 730 includesan input interface 731, an assembler subsystem 732, memory 733 and atransmit queue subsystem 734. The input interface 731 receives protocoldata units from the fast pattern processor 720. The input interface 731may also receive classification information or routing information fromthe fast pattern processor 720. In another embodiment, the inputinterface 731 may also send routing information or transmit commands tothe transmit queue subsystem 734.

The assembler subsystem 732 is configured to receive packets or portionsof protocol data units from the fast pattern processor 720 via the inputinterface 731. The assembler subsystem 732 also assembles each protocoldata unit and stores the assembled protocol data unit in at least oneblock in the memory 733. In one embodiment, the assembler subsystem 732may request the transmit queue subsystem 734 to allocate space in thememory 733 for each protocol data unit.

The transmit queue subsystem 734 is configured to maintain a linked listof each packet associated with each of the protocol data units. Inanother embodiment, the transmit queue subsystem 734 may maintain alinked list for each block of a protocol data unit stored in the memory733. The transmit queue subsystem 734 is also configured to perform arouter function on the received packet or the protocol data unitcontained within the blocks and maintain at least one queue fortransmission of the protocol data unit.

The routing switch processor 730 may also include a stream editorsubsystem 735 and an output interface 736. The stream editor subsystem735 is configured to perform packet modification on the protocol dataunits as they are being sent to the output interface 736 fortransmission. The modifications may include modifying the protocol dataunit to implement IP and upper layer protocols, encapsulating theprotocol data unit into AAL5 protocol data units and converting orsegmenting the protocol data unit into ATM cells with the appropriateheader information.

In one embodiment, the stream editor subsystem 735 may perform virtualsegmentation of the protocol data unit. For example, the assemblersubsystem 732 stores portions of the protocol data unit in blocks as itis received. The blocks associated with the protocol data unit may notbe stored in contiguous locations and may have multiple blocks fromdifferent protocol data units interleaved between them. Instead ofretrieving and physically reassembling the entire protocol data unitbefore segmenting the protocol data unit, the stream editor subsystem735 advantageously performs the segmentation on each block as it isretrieved. The segmentation may include converting the block to theappropriate transmission protocol and append header information. Forexample, if the protocol data unit is an IP message, the stream editorsubsystem 735 retrieves each block of the IP message, stores a portionof the IP message in an ATM cell, adds an ATM cell header and transmitsthe ATM cell. Of course, however, the present invention is not limitedto the type of segmentation described above. In other embodiments, thepresent invention may perform additional or other steps than describedabove.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, thoseskilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes,substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention in its broadest form.

1-40. (canceled)
 41. For use with a virtual reassembly system, a firstpass system, comprising: an input framer configured to convert a packetof a protocol data unit into at least one processing block; and apattern processing engine configured to queue said at least oneprocessing block based upon a header of said packet.
 42. The first passsystem as recited in claim 1 wherein said pattern processing engine isfurther configured to determine if said packet is a last packet of saidprotocol data unit.
 43. The first pass system as recited in claim 1wherein said input framer is further configured to determine an offsetto a data portion of said processing block and assign a context.
 44. Thefirst pass system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a databuffer configured to store said at least one processing block; a contextmemory subsystem configured to receive and associate said at least oneprocessing block with a context, said pattern processing engine receivessaid at least one processing block and said context from said contextmemory subsystem; and a data buffer controller configured to receivesaid at least one processing block from said input framer subsystem andsend said at least one processing block to said data buffer and saidcontext memory subsystem.
 45. The first pass system as recited in claim1 further comprising a queue engine configured to maintain an order ofeach said packet associated with said protocol data unit and maintain anorder of all of said at least one processing block associated with saidprotocol data unit, said queue engine maintaining order based upon saidheader of said packet or based upon a header of said protocol data unit.46. The first pass system as recited in claim 1 wherein said patternprocessing engine is further configured to perform a function on said atleast one processing block selected from the group consisting of:validating said at least one processing block, matching information insaid header of said packet, determining if said packet is in-sequence,and statistical analysis.
 47. The first pass system as recited in claim1 wherein said pattern processing engine determines routing informationfrom an encapsulated protocol data unit header within said least oneprocessing block.
 48. A method of operating a first pass systemassociated with a virtual reassembly system, comprising: converting apacket of a protocol data unit into at least one processing block; andqueuing said at least one processing block based upon a header of saidpacket.
 49. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprisingdetermining if said packet is said last packet of said protocol dataunit.
 50. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said convertingfurther comprises determining an offset to a data portion of saidprocessing block and assign a context.
 51. The method as recited inclaim 8 further comprising: storing said at least one processing blockin a data buffer; receiving and associating said at least one processingblock with a context in a context memory subsystem; receiving said atleast one processing block and said context from said context memorysubsystem in a pattern processing engine; and receiving said at leastone processing block from an input framer subsystem in a data buffercontroller and sending said at least one processing block to said databuffer and said context memory subsystem by said data buffer controller.52. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising: maintaining anorder of each said packet associated with said protocol data unit andmaintaining an order of all of said at least one processing blockassociated with said protocol data unit; and maintaining an order basedupon said header of said packet or based upon a header of said protocoldata unit.
 53. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprisesperforming a function on said at least one processing block selectedfrom the group consisting of: validating said at least one processingblock, matching information in said header of said packet, determiningif said packet is in-sequence, and statistical analysis.
 54. The methodas recited in claim 8 further comprising determining routing informationfrom an encapsulated protocol data unit header within said at least oneprocessing block.
 55. A fast pattern processor that receives differentprotocol data units, comprising: a memory; and a virtual reassemblysystem configured to process packets of each of said different protocoldata units without recreating said each of said different protocol dataunits in a contiguous portion of said memory.
 56. The fast patternprocessor as recited in claim 15 wherein said virtual reassembly systemincludes a first pass subsystem comprising: an input framer subsystemthat converts said packets into processing blocks; a pattern processingengine that queues said processing blocks based upon a header of each ofsaid packets.
 57. The fast pattern processor as recited in claim 16wherein said pattern processing engine is further configured todetermine if said each of said packets is a last packet of one of saiddifferent protocol data units.
 58. The fast pattern processor as recitedin claim 16 wherein said input framer further determines offsets to adata portion of said processing blocks and assigns a context to each ofsaid processing blocks.
 59. The fast pattern processor as recited inclaim 16 wherein said first pass subsystem further comprises a databuffer controller that receives said processing blocks from said inputframer subsystem and sends said processing blocks to a data buffer and acontext memory subsystem, said context memory subsystem receives andassociates each of said processing blocks with a context, said patternprocessing engine receives each of said processing blocks and saidcontext from said context memory subsystem.
 60. The fast patternprocessor as recited in claim 16 wherein said first pass subsystemfurther comprises a queue engine that maintains an order of each of saidpackets associated with said one of said different protocol data unitsand maintains an order of all of said processing blocks associated withsaid one of said different protocol data units, said queue enginemaintaining order based upon said header of said each of said packets orbased upon a header of said one of said different protocol data units.61. The fast pattern processor as recited in claim 16 wherein saidpattern processing engine also performs a function on each of saidprocessing blocks selected from the group consisting of: validating saidat least one processing block, matching information in said header ofsaid packet, determining if said packet is in-sequence, and statisticalanalysis.
 62. The fast pattern processor as recited in claim 16 whereinsaid pattern processing engine determines routing information from anencapsulated protocol data unit header within said processing blocksassociated with said one of said different protocol data units.
 63. Arouter, comprising: a first and second interface subsystem; a fastpattern processor, configured to receive a packet of a protocol dataunit from said first interface subsystem, including: a memory; and avirtual reassembly system configured to process said packet withoutrecreating said protocol data unit in a contiguous portion of saidmemory, and a routing switch processor configured to transmit via saidsecond interface subsystem at least one of said packet or said protocoldata unit from said fast pattern processor.
 64. The router as recited inclaim 23 wherein said virtual reassembly system includes a first passsubsystem having: an input framer subsystem configured to convert saidpacket into said at least one processing block; a pattern processingengine configured to queue said at least one processing block based upona header of said packet.
 65. The router as recited in claim 24 whereinsaid pattern processing engine is further configured to determine ifsaid packet is a last packet of said protocol data unit.
 66. The routeras recited in claim 24 wherein said pattern processing engine determinesrouting information from an encapsulated protocol data unit headerwithin said at least one processing block and transmits said routinginformation to said routing switch processor.
 67. The router as recitedin claim 23 wherein said routing switch processor further comprises: anassembler subsystem that receives said packet from said fast patternprocessor and assembles said protocol data unit; and a transmit queuesubsystem that maintains a linked list associated with said protocoldata unit, performs a function on said packet or said protocol data unitand maintains at least one queue structure for transmission.
 68. Therouter as recited in claim 27 wherein said assembler subsystem furtherstores said packet in at least one block and said transmit queuesubsystem further maintains a linked list of said at least one block.69. The router as recited in claim 23 wherein said routing switchprocessor further comprises a stream editor subsystem that performspacket modification on said protocol data unit.
 70. The router asrecited in claim 29 wherein said stream editor subsystem performsvirtual segmentation on said protocol data unit.
 71. The router asrecited in claim 23 wherein said router converts between a firstprotocol associated with said first interface and a second protocolassociated with said second interface.